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Caribou Killings, the latest

There was another thread on this and I can't find it (I don't mean the one that was locked). This issue is EXTREMELY relevant to hunting in Ak. and enforcement there of. It is a good subject to remain on this forum.

I can't help being a lazy, dumb, weekend warrior.......I have a JOB!
I have less friends now!!

I agree that the perpetrators need to be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. "I am native" is NOT an acceptable excuse. It needs to be known, and accepted that the game laws apply to EVERYONE as do the penalties for transgression. The penalties are in place to act as a deterrent to those that would break the law and to be effective they need to be enforced. If you do not expect to be penalized if you break the law then what will keep you from breaking existing laws? Ethics and personal values are nice....but they do not work for everyone. In view of prior occurrences, IT IS ABOUT TIME TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

It's a huge waste no matter who did it, but in my mind it brings about another question.
Is the native community (not saying natives did it, just saying that the elders say if natives committed the crime they'll handle it themselves) desiring to handle these things in their own way any different than some Muslim communities wanting to handle things under Sharia law?

It also serves to drive wedges between native & non native hunters that we definetly don't need driven further.

Vance in AK.

Matthew 6:33
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

this again.

Ok, well from what I have read it was native people who commited this crime which dosen't mean diddly to me, because honestly I don't care as long as the offenders are prosecuted accordingly. The village elders were not happy this became public, and are saying they will take care of everything. Ok, sure. I think that the troopers need to take over this investigation. I don't believe anything will come forth if we leave it up to the villages to find out anything. Right now it's a "sensitive" issue because the excuse some of the people are using was they need the caribou for subsistence and "they couldn't carry out all those caribou" when none of them were even delt with. If they don't want to help find out who did this, fine. Let them try and sweep it under the rug. Many of the natives were pretty horrified at the pics the troopers showed them though, so I'm hoping they come forth and rat on the scum bags who did this.

"Ya can't stop a bad guy with a middle finger and a bag of quarters!!!!"- Ted Nugent.

The story is now on AP resulting in printing in most papers in the country. the story is not out in the "open". Direct and indirect consequences are two other issues. Very ugly at every level from my view.

.....accepted that the game laws apply to EVERYONE as do the penalties for transgression. The penalties are in place to act as a deterrent to those that would break the law and to be effective they need to be enforced. If you do not expect to be penalized if you break the law then what will keep you from breaking existing laws? Ethics and personal values are nice....but they do not work for everyone. In view of prior occurrences, IT IS ABOUT TIME TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.

I agree.

Just asking this....if game laws apply or should apply then why don't all other bodies of law apply? Alaska Natives are claiming sovereign rights (which is BS imo) in other areas of law and the STATE OF ALASKA is letting them get away with it. In employment law, contract law, family law and on it goes....now this and I think this could be the big one.

As citizens of this country and of this State, we better get our head out of the clouds and start paying a lot closer attention to how we are permitting our State government to erode the States rights the Alaska Native campaign for sovereignty is eroding.....

.... desiring to handle these things in their own way any different than some Muslim communities wanting to handle things under Sharia law?

Nope it's not any different.

Originally Posted by Vance in AK

It also serves to drive wedges between native & non native hunters that we definetly don't need driven further.

Yep; and like everything else, if the core issue is not resolved the problem will not get corrected. So we either permit others with divisive attitudes to drive the wedge until the country splits along very clear lines or remove the tools used to drive the wedge any deeper.

I hope this thread can remain civil as i'd like to see it stay. No matter what the ethnicity of the poachers, they should be treated like the common criminals that they are but Fish and Game violations are hardly ever dealt with that harshly. It says 120 caribou were slaughtered but there are going to be more than that killed by the time this is over and done with, calves without their mothers will not survive for long.

Let the troopers do their job. We'll all see how it pans out. Really not much else to say on it. Continued posts just seem to be stir the pot more than anything.

Don't you think it's significant that the Natives even think they have a right to deal with this under 'tribal law' and are deliberately not cooperating and consequently interfering with a State criminal investigation based on the assumption that they have a right to do so?

I'm confused a little bit. One article I read said the natives were terribly saddened at what happened and said they would help all they could to bring justice. Then another said they wanted to keep it within the 'Tribal Council' and were mad that it leaked to the public in Anchorage. They also refused to let troopers help. This whole thing with natives is pissing me off.

"Ya can't stop a bad guy with a middle finger and a bag of quarters!!!!"- Ted Nugent.

I hope this thread can remain civil as i'd like to see it stay. No matter what the ethnicity of the poachers, they should be treated like the common criminals that they are but Fish and Game violations are hardly ever dealt with that harshly. It says 120 caribou were slaughtered but there are going to be more than that killed by the time this is over and done with, calves without their mothers will not survive for long.

I agree to a point. I am sure you do understand that the ONLY reason this situation is unfolding the way it is is because it is an ethnic issue plain and simple.

Any jail time is hard time. I believe that wanton waste is a mandatory 7 days in jail. That means that for every single animal that at least the hind quarters were not salvaged is good for 7 days in jail per count. At least the cases I am familiar with.

One thing for sure...

A tribe won't last another 10,000 years by doing business this way. The village elders need to dig their collective heads out and start conducting themselves as if they intend to thrive, not merely survive.

A tribe won't last another 10,000 years by doing business this way. The village elders need to dig their collective heads out and start conducting themselves as if they intend to thrive, not merely survive.

One law. One standard. One justice.

Taylor

EXACTLY!! If they want to live like their ancestors let them. That means, no gas, oil or electricity goes to them. Let them kill caribou and moose and whales and blah blah blah. Let them burn whale oil. They've continued to play both sides of the fence for years. Lets bring a stop to it.

"Ya can't stop a bad guy with a middle finger and a bag of quarters!!!!"- Ted Nugent.